05 June 2005

We give the assurance of our thoughts and prayers to all who are unwell, awaiting or undergoing treatment, or anxious or grieving for the loss of loved ones.

General Church Meeting Resume

At last Sunday’s Meeting

• Rev Mary Patterson
  • referred to the Circuit Open Forum, next Spring, where the current Circuit arrangements will be considered
  • reported on the “Come As You Are” course last autumn, expressing the hope that it could be revisited and / or further explored
  • thanked all involved in regular meetings – Committees, Worship Group, Mary Slessor Project & Make Poverty History
  • expressed gratitude to the Church Stewards, news-sheet editors, and all concerned with providing hospitality for the Visit of the President & Vice-President of Conference
• David E (Treasurer) spoke to last year’s accounts and the interim figures to 22/5/05, both of which presented a generally re-assuring picture.
• Paddy (Senior Steward) thanked her colleagues as Stewards (in particular Clare (retiring) for her years of service), collection-counters, individuals involved in worship, serving on rotas, property maintenance, and church life as a whole
• Appointments were made:
  • Church Stewards – Paddy, ’tricia, Keith & Sheila, Mary F, Denise
  • Representatives to Church Council – Lorna, Heathe, Avril - thanks expressed to Janet S (retiring)
  • Auditors nominated - Arthur, David S
• Mary Patterson explained the need to ensure compliance with Safeguarding requirements and to support Ian as the Church’s Safeguarding Officer
• A suggestion was made for advance thought about the General Church Meeting 2006, with the possibility of combining worship, consideration of “the work of God”, and necessary business, to make it easier for wider attendance and to have time & space for thought & conversation
• A query was raised about Communion books, given or purchased in memory of past Members, now superseded by recently purchased copies of the Methodist Worship Book.

Pastoral Committee

• individual concerns & pastoral care arrangements
• issues of care in “Safeguarding”
• feedback from the “Nurturing Groups” meeting in Dunblane
• forthcoming reports to Conference
  • “Talking about God” / discipleship
  • “Pray Without Ceasing” initiative
• next meeting – 26th October at 7.30 pm

Preaching Plans

The plans for the quarter June – August are now available from the Vestibule.

Worship Group

The meeting planned for 15th June has been deferred to a later date (to be confirmed).

Meetings this week

Support other Organisations

Scottish Bible Society

The Bible-a-Month Club invites our support in June for work in Rwanda, where illiteracy is high. Bible Society graded easy-to-read Scripture booklets assist children and adults in gaining readings skills, as well as hearing of God’s love for them. See library area noticeboard for more details.

Forthcoming events

Prayer Points for this week

• The President & Vice-President of Conference at the World Church Roadshow, Monday to Thursday;
• Methodist Ministers’ Pension Board meeting on Thursday;
• the work and staff of ACTS and Scottish Churches House, Dunblane;
• preparations for District Networking Day on 18th June;
• all involved in the worship life of the Circuit’s congregations;
• WCC peace conference in Sweden as part of Decade to Overcome Violence (Christian Aid);
• literacy work, especially with women, in India (Feed The Minds);
• The Leprosy Mission’s leaders and decision-makers;
• Bible Society work in Rwanda;
• we pray with and for the peoples of Liberia and of Sierra Leone.
• we remember fellow Methodists in the Peterborough Circuit (Oxford & Leicester District), and in Partick (Glasgow Circuit).

• 29 May 2005
• 12 June 2005

© 2002—2003 Dundee Methodist Church.